led, mistake 11th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, hit 2 out, weakening when pecked badly last, eased after
held up, pushed along 10th, ridden 12th, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, weakened after 4 out, never on terms
in touch, ridden 4 out, headway to chase leaders 3 out, ridden and joined leader 2 out, led soon after last, driven out flat
pulled early and held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 4 out, soon no impression
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out
prominent, chased leaders 13th, ridden 3 out, led approaching 2 out, hard ridden and headed soon after last, kept on flat, not pace of winner
chased leader, mistake 11th, ridden and lost place approaching 4 out, weakened after, pulled up before last
Spring Margot gets the vote in a competitive hunters' chase with Moonshine Bay and Mouseski the main dangers. The selection is on the hat-trick bid here and he won in emphatic fashion last time when beating Coole Glen at Stratford. He will handle the ground and although this trip stretches his stamina to the limit he should have too much class for his rivals and he looks the most reliable proposition in this contest. Moonshine Bay ran a fair race over hurdles at Kempton last time and he will have no trip or ground worries today. Of the more concern would be his attitude because when he is in the mood he is capable of running big races but he does have a tendency to run very poorly for no reason. Mouseski has failed to complete on his last two outings over hurdles and although he has the ability to get competitive here, he has not won a race since 2005 and can't be backed with too much confidence. King's Travel is best on a sound surface and in a tricky race for punters we will return to Spring Margot who is more reliable than most of these and is in good heart at present.
Spring Margot (FR) 8-11fav (12-3) Made all, not fluent 3rd, drew well clear after 3 out, unchallenged, won at Stratford 2m 1f hts chs (5) sft in May beating Coole Glen (12-3) by 24l, 6 ran.
King's Travel (FR) 25-1 (12-0) In touch until weakened app 3 out; pulled up in race won by Saint Romble (12-7) at Chipley Park 3m ptp gd in Jan, 10 ran.
Moonshine Bay (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Bhnd til hmpd & unseated rider in race won by Coy Lad (11-0) at Chaddesley Corb' 3m ptp gd in Feb, 12 ran.
Mouseski 4-5fav (12-0) Held up; hdwy 9; ev ch 2 out; no ex flat, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Sailors Folly (12-0) at Milborne St Andr 3m ptp gd in Feb.
Moving Earth (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Pulled hard in mid-division, headway to go 3rd 11th, led 3 out, blundered and headed next, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 32l behind Le Passing (12-0) at Fakenham 2m 5f hts chs (4) gs in Feb.
Provocative (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Chased leading pair to 5th, remained prominent, closed to challenge for 2nd when hit 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Balinova (12-1) at Sandown 2m 4f hts chs (6) sft in Feb.
Royal Hector (GER) 50-1 (10-11) Held up, mistake 6th, hampered 8th, mistake 11th, well behind when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Non So (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd, 24 ran.
Scotch Corner (IRE) 150-1 (11-3) Behind, some headway and jumped right 11th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Viscount Bankes (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd in Feb, 15 ran.
